View full sizeCHRIS KNIGHT, The Patriot-News, 2011Fred Rahmer will take the weekend off after his split from car owner Chad Clemens.

Sports are as unpredictable as a tropical storm rolling through the Caribbean in its infancy stage.

You never what twist or turn its going to take.

That’s what the 72-hour period from Saturday night through Tuesday was like for Sprint Car hall of famer Fred Rahmer and car owner Chad Clemens. The end result was the two parting ways.

CJB Motorsports announced Tuesday via a formal press release — rumors have been circulating for weeks — that the team and Rahmer are ending their partnership, effective immediately.

The team, which started its first full season in 2007, accumulated 40 wins, two track championships, three Keystone Cup titles and two Pennsylvania Speed Week championships.

“When my wife and I started CJB Motorsports, we wanted to build it into a team that was capable of winning on any given night,” Clemens said in the release.

“Fred Rahmer has bee a huge part of CJB Motorsports for a very long time and has helped us achieve that goal. Racing is a very competitive business and sometimes change is necessary for both parties to achieve even more.

“With that in mind, we’ve made the decision to end our relationship. It was a mutual decision by both parties as we looked towards the future.”

The team had eight wins in 2007 and jumped to 18 in 2008. After two five-win seasons, the Rahmer-Clemens connection had two wins last year and two this season.

On Saturday, Rahmer failed to qualify for the prestigious Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal. He ran fifth in the B-main.

“When something is broken, it’s broke,” Rahmer said. “It doesn’t mean it isn’t a good car or I’m not a good driver. It just wasn’t working together.”

Rahmer has no plans to race this Friday or Saturday night. Instead, he is taking the week off and will help his son race. He also indicated that he may have something for the Williams Grove National Open and that he will race in 2013.

As for Clemens, he has hired Brian Leppo to drive at Williams Grove Friday and during Saturday’s Jim Nace Memorial at Selinsgrove. All-Star regular Paul McMahan takes over Sept. 21 and will run the car next season.

“Aside from all the racing drama, for me it is a good opportunity,” Leppo said. “It’s obviously a good car that can win anywhere it goes.

“[Crew chief] Barry Jackson and I have been buddies since I ran his cars. If I ever had an opportunity to work with him, I wouldn’t turn it down.

“He called me Monday and asked me what my racing plans were this weekend. I wasn’t doing anything. It gives me the opportunity to drive a top-notch car for the weekend. I look forward to it and appreciate the offer.”

McMahan first talked to Clemens on Saturday night after he heard the team was going to make a change next year.

“When we talked Saturday night, we were planning to start in Charlotte and then things obviously changed in the last 48 hours,” said McMahan in a Tuesday phone interview.

“We don’t have the schedule for next year finalized yet. I know our first race will be in Florida, and I know they are going to run plenty of races for me and that is all that matters.

“They have a plan, and we are just waiting for schedules to come out.”

STILL TALKING TIRES

Guy Webb, President of the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint car series, has a message for sprint car tracks and organizations across the country.

Stick together.

“I supply a lot of the drivers for World of Outlaws shows,” Webb said. “It only makes sense that I do what they do.

“The smart money is for everyone to stay together. I’m a big believer that we need to do this as a group with the idea to save the drivers money.”

A Hoosier tire test is tentatively scheduled for Lincoln Speedway early next week. Williams Grove is also scheduled to hold a Hoosier and American Racer test session.

NOTES

-- According to Charlie and Dawn Sorokach, Tyler Walker has not been fired from the No. 35. Walker is scheduled to drive the car at the Williams Grove National Open and in Charlotte at the World Finals.

-- Russ Mitten took the super sportsman point lead with his win last week at Williams Grove Speedway. He is five points ahead of Frankie Herr heading into next week’s final points race at Susquehanna Speedway Park. The series will compete in the Sportsman 100 at Lincoln Saturday. 

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